How to increase your learning curve?

Our brain is a memory organ and understanding "how it remembers" can increase your overall health. There are key insights according to the latest brain research that are extremely valuable to understand. The most significant findings contributing to memory loss is the lack of daily health rituals and not making learning new things a priority.

Here are two key research findings to keep in mind next time you learn something new.

1. The process of learning creates new connections in the brain

Your brain works like an electrical circuit and when you learn something new, stronger connections form between neurons in your brain. Just as when electrical current travels through a circuit in your home, the same thing happens from one group of nerve cells to another. The stronger the electrical signal is initially the stronger the connection is between the neurons.

If you have a daily habit patterns you’ve felt the effects of a strong memory connections. Getting in your car, turning the key in the ignition, backing out of your driveway and driving to work can all happen without you even thinking about it. This unconscious behavior happens automatically as a result of brain circuitry that’s been strengthened through daily repetition. Studies show that the best way to create a healthier brain is to learn something new daily. Remember that habit patterns and daily rituals are only good if they support your overall health and vitality.

2. Overlapping connections are the best way for effective long term learning.

Just as awareness and conscious attention plays a role in learning, so does the quantity of the connections made between neurons. A single isolated fact may be very be tough to remember, but you can increase your memory by linking it to familiar information in your brain.

When I teach memory technique classes it is often astounding to the group how learning a simple strategy can magnify their learning curve. Whether it be remembering names ,lists, numbers etc,it is always better to link new knowledge to a previous memory. A sequencing of thoughts is similar to overlapping shingles on a roof which creates better recall.

For example: If you want to remember a grocery list ,predetermine specific places in different rooms of your home and then visualize items on your list.

Pick 5 places in each room starting on the left and move from place to place clockwise:

Room 1 could be your kitchen and item # 1 visualize eggs cooking on the stove

#2 you smell bread baking in the oven

#3 milk in the refrigerator

 #4 cleaning apples in the sink

#5 dishwashing soap in dishwasher.

Having five specific places that are predetermined makes it easier to visualize your items at each designated spot. You will be more likely to remember new information when you’ve formed connections across multiple neural systems. You’ll also have a much stronger network of connections for recalling this information later.

Understanding how brain research proves that learning creates new connections and these connections are stronger if you link it to previous memories gives a clearer strategy to create a Better Brain. Try applying this awareness the next time you want to learn a new fact, remember a list or even someone's name.

Better Brain Tip

1)    Use as many senses as possible to create new memory patterns.(seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting and feeling)

2)    Instead of making a grocery list use this technique to strengthen your brain. For more memory techniques go to previous Better Brain Blueprint memory video blog click here